TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
OVERPAINTING [6 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2022-03-31
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Restoration of Works of Art (Museums and Heritage)
- Fine Arts (General)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- prudish overpainting
1, record 1, English, prudish%20overpainting
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Restauration d'œuvres d'art (Muséologie et Patrimoine)
- Beaux-arts (Généralités)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- repeint de pudeur
1, record 1, French, repeint%20de%20pudeur
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- surpeint de pudeur 2, record 1, French, surpeint%20de%20pudeur
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Ces surpeints très anciens, réalisés probablement par les Ursulines au moment d'accueillir l'œuvre en leurs murs, visaient sans doute à cacher la nudité des angelots (surpeints de pudeur), mais aussi à rafraîchir le ciel, les montagnes, les arbres et le fleuve. 3, record 1, French, - repeint%20de%20pudeur
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2017-08-08
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Painting (Arts)
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- pentimento
1, record 2, English, pentimento
correct, see observation
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The reappearance on the surface of an oil painting of paint or drawing that the artist had covered by overpainting, as the result of the increasing transparency of the overpainting on aging;... 2, record 2, English, - pentimento
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Flora (c. 1650), by Rembrandt. The artist first painted his subject’s hat with a much broader brim at the front; his original intention has become known through the appearance of the dark oval area through the lighter, overpainted background. This phenomenon is called pentimento. 2, record 2, English, - pentimento
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
pentimenti: plural. 3, record 2, English, - pentimento
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Peinture (Arts)
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- repentir
1, record 2, French, repentir
correct, see observation, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- pentimento 2, record 2, French, pentimento
correct, masculine noun
- transparence accrue 3, record 2, French, transparence%20accrue
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Changement apporté, correction faite en cours d'exécution [...] 4, record 2, French, - repentir
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
L'auteur n'invente pas ses personnages, il les ressuscite du fond de ses souvenirs, grattant comme le peintre la toile [...] pour découvrir sous les personnages et le paysage visibles, d'autres personnages, d'autres paysages oubliés. Ainsi apparaît le dessin [...] originel [...] «On appelle ce phénomène pentimento, car il est dû à un repentir du peintre qui, entre-temps, a modifié son sujet primitif.» 5, record 2, French, - repentir
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Il s'agit plus particulièrement de la réapparition du repentir causée par le vieillissement du médium. 6, record 2, French, - repentir
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2017-07-18
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Painting (Arts)
- Restoration of Works of Art (Museums and Heritage)
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- inpainting
1, record 3, English, inpainting
correct, noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- retouching 1, record 3, English, retouching
avoid, see observation, noun, obsolete
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
... the application of new paint [only] on areas where original paint has been lost or abraded. 1, record 3, English, - inpainting
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
retouching :[This term] used to sometimes mean "inpainting, "but it was also used to imply an unnecessary and damaging change to the original painting("overpainting"). Today, the term "overpainting" is preferred for this concept. 1, record 3, English, - inpainting
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Peinture (Arts)
- Restauration d'œuvres d'art (Muséologie et Patrimoine)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- retouche
1, record 3, French, retouche
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[...] application de nouvelle peinture strictement limitée aux lacunes et aux endroits où la peinture d'origine du tableau montre de l'usure. 1, record 3, French, - retouche
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2014-12-02
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Restoration of Works of Art (Museums and Heritage)
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- overpainting
1, record 4, English, overpainting
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Additions which partly or wholly cover areas of original paint. 1, record 4, English, - overpainting
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Restauration d'œuvres d'art (Muséologie et Patrimoine)
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- surpeint
1, record 4, French, surpeint
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Toute retouche ou couche de couleur appliquée après l'achèvement du tableau et qui oblitère partiellement ou complètement la matière originale de l'œuvre. 1, record 4, French, - surpeint
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Combien de fois ne constate-t-on pas que le surpeint recouvre inutilement une matière originale presque intacte? 1, record 4, French, - surpeint
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 1986-08-19
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Art History and Theory
- Restoration of Works of Art (Museums and Heritage)
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- encroaching overpainting
1, record 5, English, encroaching%20overpainting
proposal
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Histoire et théorie de l'art
- Restauration d'œuvres d'art (Muséologie et Patrimoine)
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- surpeint débordant
1, record 5, French, surpeint%20d%C3%A9bordant
masculine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Traitement réalisé sur le tableau : [...] Nous avons enlevé tous les surpeints débordants sur l'original [...] ceci après consultation avec le conservateur. 1, record 5, French, - surpeint%20d%C3%A9bordant
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 1978-10-30
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Plastic Arts
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- fat over lean
1, record 6, English, fat%20over%20lean
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
A traditional principle of painting where there is overpainting of any sort : superimposed pigments should be richer in oil(fat) than the underlayer. 1, record 6, English, - fat%20over%20lean
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 2 OBS
(...) it is unwise to paint over a polymer ground or a polymer underpainting with oil colors, for then the rule of "fat over lean" would be violated. 2, record 6, English, - fat%20over%20lean
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Arts plastiques
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- gras sur maigre
1, record 6, French, gras%20sur%20maigre
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Règle selon laquelle une couche maigre peu chargée en huile adhère mal sur une couche riche en huile. 1, record 6, French, - gras%20sur%20maigre
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Non seulement il n'y a plus de longs délais à respecter entre couches, mais la fameuse règle "gras sur maigre" n'existe plus. 2, record 6, French, - gras%20sur%20maigre
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


